| Objective To investigate the relationship between lumbar vertebral bone mineral density (BMD) and the body composition at the third lumbar vertebra (L3) level in adult women with different age. Methods A total of 496 adult females aged from 25-82 years were divided into youth group (≤44 years old), middle-aged group (45-59 years old), and elderly group (≥60 years old). Quantitative computed tomography (QCT) was used to measure BMD of L1-3 and the content of paravertebral body compositions at L3 level. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA and independent-samples t test in different age and BMD groups. Results The average age of the subjects was 50.9±12.5 years (25-82 years). The values of BMI, BMD, LM, and SAT in the elderly group were lower than those in the young and middle-aged groups (P<0.01). FM was higher in the elderly group than in the middle and young group (P<0.01). VAT gradually decreased with age, but there was no statistically significant difference among the groups (P=0.955). BMD was negatively correlated with age and FM, and positively correlated with BMI, LM, SAT, and weakly positively correlated with VAT. Among the different BMD groups, BMI, LM, and SAT were the lowest in the osteoporosis group (P<0.01), FM was the highest in the osteoporosis group (P<0.01), and VAT was not statistically different between the different BMD groups (P=0.701). Conclusion In women, BMD and body composition display different characteristics with age. BMI, LM, and SAT are positively correlated with BMD. However, FM is negatively correlated with BMD. |